Yeshwantpur, Peenya Metro line by Nov-end

In what could bring cheer to hundreds of commuters who travel between Peenya and Yeshwantpur, the BMRCL is all set to start the commercial operations of its new Metro line by the end of November.

However, there is still one hurdle — the clearance by the CRS (Commission of Railway Safety) which has to conduct oscillatory tests before the 9.9 km line is cleared for public use. Despite this, the BMRCL officials are positive about the Metro line starting its commercial operations by the end of next month.

BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “We are hopeful that all formalities, including the CRS tests will be conducted and we will be able to commission the Reach 3 and 3A by November 30. As of now, the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) certifications are on for this line”.

In contrast, CRS S K Mittal said, “We are yet to get the application from the BMRCL for conducting the railway safety tests. Once we receive the mandatory papers, it will take approximately a month for us to study the documents in detail, ensure that all the necessary approvals are enclosed and then conduct the tests.

It depends on the BMRCL as to when they send us the required documents. Once that is done, there will be no delay from our side.” As for the Reach 3B line — from Peenya Industrial Estate to Nagasandra — commuters will have to wait till March 2014 for it to be completed, added Kharola.

He was accompanying Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy along with BBMP representatives, including Mayor B S Satyanarayana, during his visit to check the progress of the Metro project on Tuesday.

The minister visited two Metro sites: Reach-2 which is the western line from Leprosy Hospital to Mysore Road (6.4 km) and Reach 4, which is the southern line from National College to Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road (4.1 km).

Speaking at the Mysore Road Metro station construction site, Reddy said that there is delay in the completion of the flyover being constructed by the BDA next to Metro line owing to land acquisition hurdles for 3.5 acres.

“Now that has been sorted out and about 43 properties will be acquired for the purpose and most likely the flyover will be completed by coming March. A proposal is being put up before the government on October 22,” he said.

Expressing concern over inadequate parking facility for Metro users on the Reach 4 southern line, the minister said the BBMP will provide land for constructing a proper parking lot. Mayor Satyanarayana said that the parking lot could be constructed either with JnNURM funds or on a PPP mode.

The BMRCL officials informed that even though some of the work on Reach 4 line will be completed by March, the entire Reach 4, which also has two underground lines, will only be completed by the end of 2014, which includes the ongoing work at the Majestic station. “The entire Reach 4 line will be commissioned once work on Majestic station is complete,” said P S Kharola.

On the Metro Line passing via the Jayadeva Hospital, BMRCL M D Kharola said, “We will make minor adjustments in the alignment so as to minimise the cost of land acquisition which is around Rs 500-600 crore. This is also to minimise inconvenience to the residents of that area.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Satyanarayana handed over a representation to Kharola on the poor condition of roads adjacent to Metro works, which need repairs. These include Peenya Road, National College Road and Kanakapura Road. The BMRCL MD assured that the roads will be repaired once the construction work of the Metro stations is over in March.